An Oregon woman’s casual search through an old Tupperware container unexpectedly turned her into a millionaire, thanks to a long-forgotten lottery ticket. Leslie Carr, aged 52, hails from the city of Portland and had her fortune changed overnight. Little did she know, when she purchased her lucky Raffle ticket for the Oregon Lottery’s March 15 draw at a Fred Meyer store in Happy Valley, that it would soon be worth a staggering $1 million.
Leslie recounted to lottery officials that she was oblivious to her newfound wealth and claimed, “I had no idea I was the winner,” highlighting the fact that she doesn’t regularly check her tickets. The reminder to do so only came after a gargantuan $1.326 billion Powerball jackpot was won within her state, catching media headlines and nudging her to sift through her stashed tickets.
When Leslie scanned her hoard of tickets at the grocery store where they were purchased, none hinted at the good news until she reached her last ticket, which prompted a message instructing her to visit the Oregon Lottery Headquarters. Unsure of the implications, she sought confirmation from a staff member at Fred Meyer, only to be informed, “I can’t cash this because your prize is worth over $1,000.” The realization of winning such a substantial amount of money set in, and Leslie described getting butterflies from the excitement.
Thanks to this windfall, Leslie, who works as a medical receptionist, has detailed her plans for the prize money. Prioritizing practicality, she aims to clear some bills, starting with her mortgage to ease the life she shares with her husband. Part of her plan also includes splurging on a new truck, as her current one is marred with a broken windshield. Once these tasks are out of the way, she dreams of vacationing in Hawaii, a trip that has likely been on her wish list for some time. To Leslie, the lottery win is nothing short of “a dream come true.”
The odds of claiming the top prize like Leslie’s in the Oregon Lottery’s Raffle are slim, standing at 1 in 250,000, while the overall odds of any win are 1 in 138.8. To participate, potential lottery winners must venture to local convenience stores, gas stations, or grocery stores to purchase their tickets. Alternatively, tickets can be obtained online in a few states.
For digital convenience, Jackpocket serves as the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network, offering services in an array of U.S. states and territories, such as Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, and many more, including Oregon. This app allows players to select their lottery game and numbers, place orders, view tickets, and collect winnings, all from the comfort of their phones or computers.
Adhering to legal and safety concerns, Jackpocket stipulates that users must be of legal age to participate, which varies by region, with the majority requiring participants to be at least 18, but with a few exceptions requiring individuals to be 21 or 19. As always with games of chance, responsible gaming is advocated, and resources for help with gambling problems are made available through various helplines for those in need.
Leslie Carr’s extraordinary story goes to show that sometimes, amidst mundane routines and unremarkable possessions, fortunes can be uncovered, transforming ordinary lives into ones touched by the delightful hand of serendipity. As Leslie makes her plans for a brighter, financially-secure future, her story is a reminder of the whimsical nature of luck, and how it can strike when least expected.
